Tell Me You Had a Rhody Wedding Without Telling Me You Had a Rhody Wedding

New England delicacies were front-and-center at Camilla Akbas and Nikolaus Tedesco’s big day

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

An autumn palette was selected for the early October ceremony

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

"The best day of our lives," says Akbas

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Calm, cool, and collected on the big day

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Guests enjoyed learning about the couple through designed displays

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Framed photographs are an elegant way to keep loved ones present

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Akbas slipped into a sheath dress for the reception

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Akbas gifted the bridal party with matching permanent bracelets the morning of the wedding

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Printed on the bottom of Akbas’ veil in Tedesco’s handwriting

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Pink elements add a light touch to the dramatic tablescape

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Interactive activities keep guests busy and help with socializing

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Audio guestbook

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Live painting

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

"The moment I slurped down an oyster, my husband and I looked at each other and immediately thought, yup, this is so us," says Akbas

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Personalized donuts from Dunkin’ are a true New England treat

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

The couple chose to have a traditional cake and a dessert bar

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Akbas surprised her father by performing a Kurdish folk song on the saz

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

The newlyweds spin the hits

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

A fun moment by the flower wall

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Dancing the night away at the after-party

Photography by Jacqueline Gundberg, courtesy of the Tedescos

Posted Sunday, February 1, 2026 9:00 am

By Jenna Kaplan

On an early October afternoon, guests leaned into the aisle with their phones raised, not to film the ceremony, but to capture one quick photo or selfie with the couple before putting devices away. The moment was planned, playful, and brief, a built-in pause before the unplugged ceremony officially began. “It allowed us to really look around and take in the incredible people surrounding us,” says bride Camilla Akbas. Later, guests sent those photos to the couple, creating what she calls “a perfect mix of memories in the moment and keepsakes to cherish.” That focus on presence carried through Camilla and Nikolaus Tedesco’s entire wedding weekend, which blended high-energy fun with deeply personal meaning and unmistakable Southern New England flair.

Head Over Heels

Their story started quietly. Akbas and Tedesco first met at a mutual friend’s Halloween party and exchanged a quick hello that went nowhere. A year later, during the early days of the COVID shutdown, that same friend invited Akbas to join in on a round of the multiplayer online game, Among Us. “Our origin story is a mix of love, a little fate, and a game,” says Akbas. “As soon as I logged in, there was Nikolaus, and we instantly clicked. Ironically, we bonded over a game all about ‘eliminating’ other players!” The online connection soon moved offline. The two met in real life and never looked back. “We went for a walk, talked for hours, and the rest, as they say, is history,” says Akbas.

The Right Venue

As planning began, Five Bridge Inn in nearby Rehoboth, MA quickly rose to the top of the list. “We were drawn to the location because it offered a fully immersive, all-in-one experience,” Akbas says. The couple hosted their ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and getting-ready moments all on site, with each part unfolding in a different area of the property. The layout allowed the day to flow naturally, and the peaceful setting helped set the tone. A family homestead-turned-event venue and bed-and-breakfast, Five Bridge Inn boasts an 18th century farmhouse, a newly constructed farmhouse, a barn, and landscaped grounds. “Being able to feed the ducks and goats in the morning was an unforgettable little bonus!” says Akbas. The rehearsal dinner held two nights before the wedding, was at the atmospheric Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park, where the bride-to-be wore her mother’s wedding dress and surprised her mom with a birthday cake.

Family Matters

For the big day, the couple centered their decisions around what mattered most to them. Tedesco’s father had passed away a few years earlier, and honoring him was essential. The couple reserved a seat for him along the aisle during the ceremony and saved a place for him at a dinner table so his presence could be felt throughout the evening. Akbas also wanted to honor her mother alongside her father. “Mothers don’t always receive the attention or recognition they deserve during weddings,” she says. She walked down the aisle with both parents and shared a special dance with her mom in addition to the traditional father-daughter dance. Throughout the reception, hanging vinyl displays invited guests to learn about the couple individually and together, sparking conversation and connection. Another fun touch was having friends walk down the aisle to the theme song of the TV show Friends, of which Akbas says, “This was the most millennial thing that I could ever do, and I have zero regrets!”

Personal Style

Akbas tried on more than 43 dresses before finding her ceremony gown at The Bridal Garden in East Greenwich. “I wanted my ceremony-look to feel timeless,” she says. Later she changed into a fitted sheath dress for the reception and a playful mini dress for late-night dancing. Each look had its own hairstyle by Ashley Silvano, with makeup by Erica Wright of Glam Done Wright. Seven bridesmaids and one bridesman selected their own looks within an autumn-inspired palette; the mix of shades and silhouettes allowed individual style while keeping the group cohesive.

Local Love

Supporting local businesses was a non-negotiable. “It was crucial to me as a native Rhode Islander,” Akbas says. The couple worked with nearly 50 local vendors, many of whom Akbas already knew through years of highlighting Rhode Island businesses online through her Shut Up Camilla platform on social media. “Those whom I’ve established friendships with at this point,” she says. Rather than singling out one standout, Akbas credits the entire team for understanding her vision. Providence-based Kaelin’s Florals created arrangements inspired by the beginning of fall, using bright oranges, yellows, and sangria tones. Fabulosity Designs and Rentals in North Providence layered pink goblets, gold chargers, fresh citrus elements, a floral wall, and a showstopping dessert display. Soirées by Sonya coordinated every detail, including a massive kissing booth and a giant custom Guess Who? board featuring the bridal party. To document everything from the rehearsal dinner to the final moments on the dance floor, Akbas enlisted Jacqueline Gundberg Photography, videographers Earth and Sun Co, and The Social FRM content creation studio.

Familiar Foods

“The moment I slurped down an oyster, my husband and I looked at each other and immediately thought, yup, this is so us,” says Akbas, of a menu that included quintessential Rhode Island eats like a raw bar, hot lobster rolls, clam cakes and chowder from Red’s Kitchen, plus donuts and munchkins from Dunkin’, milk from Wright’s Dairy Farm in North Smithfield, and doughboys from Iggy’s in Warwick. Only the Finest Italian Cookies rolled a roaming cannoli cart onto the dance floor, Pianta provided plant-based offerings like mini skillet cookies and chocolate lava cakes, and the wedding cake, baked by Danielle the Baker, featured chai spice with hints of orange and two tiny Polaroids from the wedding day.

Meaningful Music

Music set the mood from start to finish. Tedesco’s uncle, an opera singer, performed “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls (“I just want you to know who I am”) during the ceremony. DJ Infinite delivered a millennial-coded soundtrack and a first-dance mashup featuring Ed Sheeran, NSYNC, and LFO. As a tribute to the bride’s heritage, Kurdish music brought guests onto the dance floor, and a Persian knife dance during the cake cutting introduced friends and family to a meaningful cultural tradition. One moment stood out above the rest. During the father-daughter dance, Akbas stopped the music, picked up a saz – a long-necked stringed lute instrument – and performed a song she had secretly learned over the course of a year. “It was such a meaningful surprise for my dad,” she says. “A moment I will treasure forever.”

Looking Back

“There is not one single thing I would change at all. It was our best day ever,” says Akbas, with her signature bright smile. Her advice to couples planning a 2026 Rhode Island wedding is simple. “Don’t get caught up in trends.” She encourages couples to include what feels meaningful, support local vendors, and build in moments to pause. In the end, the couple created more than a wedding. They created a personal celebration rooted in love, culture, and the Rhode Island community that helped bring it all to life.